There are many factors that determine the final quality of a digital photograph. Images which look fine on screen can in fact be too small to print satisfactorily. In order to ensure you high quality images suitable for transfer over the Internet here are a few guidelines.

The table below shows the best compromise between image quality and file size to produce an excellent quality print. Prints can be made from smaller resolutions however these may exhibit a degree of pixilation or digital graininess.

All images must be in JPEG format. If saving images after editing we recommend you choose a compression level of either BEST ( in some software and cameras ) or in Adobe Photoshop, we recommend a compression level of 8-10. Some Image editors use a scale of 1-100, we recommend 80.

Because of the size of TIF and other uncompressed formats, we can only accept compressed JPEG images via our online ordering service. We do however offer complete support instore for other formats.

For those of you who do not use Adobe Photoshop, Paint Shop Pro or similar photo editing package, we recommend you download a small application Irfanviewr. This free software will enable you to open images saved in a variety of formats and resave them in JPEG format. You can also resize, sharpen and convert images to black and white among other nifty features.

You will need Winzip or a similar program to UNZIP this file after download.

Download Irfanview ( ZIP File ) 850kb

We do not have any set minimum order size. We feel it is important that you are able to use our system at your convenience and many people will want to try out a small order to gain confidence in our service.

It is best to copy all the images you wish to order on to your Hard Disk prior to ordering. When you BROWSE to choose which files to order, the form remembers where each file you wish to upload is stored. If you choose files from one CD-ROM and then choose some from another CD-ROM, the first lot will not be available when it comes time to upload because the CD-ROM is no longer in the drive. If you are unable to copy your images to the Hard Drive you must make sure you only use one disk per order. If choosing to have your photos delivered we will bundle your orders together and you will only be charged a single delivery fee.

Unfortunately this question is a hard one to answer. Many variables come into play when it comes to file upload speeds. A similar sized order may take longer during peak Internet usage times. For your convenience it may be easier to upload large orders at non-peak times, i.e. avoid evenings.

It is important to note that once you begin to upload files, your browser will appear to be busy and your mouse pointer will change to an hourglass icon. If you press STOP in your browser at this stage the upload will be aborted.

It is often a good idea to split your files into two separate orders if you feel the upload time may be considerable. This is also a good idea when sending larger sized files. If your order is to be delivered you will only be charged a single delivery fee for orders made consecutively.

Due to the nature of the Internet it is in the best interests of everyone to keep file sizes to a manageable limit. For this reason we only accept JPEG files online. We have done considerable quality tests on a variety of filesizes and as a general rule there is no noticeable loss of quality when images are compressed at a level 8 or similar JPEG setting.

As a general rule we see no reason to send files larger than 4 megabytes, as this will produce a brilliant quality print up to our largest size 10 x 15". The uploading of larger files is unstable and we cannot guarantee their delivery.

When sending larger files remember we have a limit of 50 Megabytes per order. Bulk orders of large files may need to be split into separate orders.

This would depend on weather you chose to Collect your photos or have them Posted to your door.

If you elected to Collect your photos then generally speaking they will be ready for you by 4pm the next working day. Occasionally certain larger jobs may require extra time, if this is the case we will contact you on the telephone number you provide. For instance if you sent us your photos on Wednesday evening, they would be ready to collect at our store Thursday at 4pm

Alternatively..

If you asked for your prints to be Posted, they will be posted the following working day, then subject to Australia Post delivery times. To avoid delivery delays you can choose to use Australia Post's Guaranteed next day delivery service at an extra charge.

This is often a confusing hurdle encountered for those new to digital photography. It basically comes down to the fact that the aspect ratio of digital images differs to that of 35mm film and the standard print sizes available. This is most commonly noticeable on full-frame print sizes such as 4x6 and 8x12 where the printer centers the image, losing some of the image area close to the edge. 5x7, 6x8 and 8x10 image sizes will experience very minimal cropping.

Example of a Digital Camera image cropped to 4x6"
( areas outside white line cropped )

Some newer model digital cameras have an option to automatically save images in a 35mm ratio, thus eliminating the problem of unwanted cropping. Otherwise for total control of the cropping of your images, you will need to crop your images yourself to desired size in a photo editing program such as Adobe Photoshop.

We now have a special print size of 4.5 x 6 inch ( slightly larger than a standard photo ) that will avoid any cropping of your digital images.

The short answer is that the Internet is one of the safest places to use your credit card. We spent many hours ensuring that your details are secure. We have invested in access to Secure Web Server. For those with technical knowledge this is known as SSL ( Secure Socket Layer ) Technology. This technology is at the forefront of Internet security in this day, and is the one used by the worlds largest online shopping services such as Amazon.com.

Our order form is hosted on a site that is certified secure
by online security industry leaders THAWTE

Your web browser will verify when you are on a secure website. Those using Internet Explorer on a PC will notice a small icon of a gold padlock in the lower right hand side of their window. Clicking on this icon will bring up authentication of the site's secure status.

An icon similar to this in your browser bar denotes a secure site.

This may happen for a number of reasons and in the event we will telephone you immediately. The most common cause of declined transactions is a typographical error when entering your details. If after contacting you an approved transaction cannot be made, you can choose to Collect your order and pay by Cash of EFTPOS at PHOTOQ 143 High Street, KEW.

While we package all our orders with the greatest of care, occasionally items may be damaged in circumstances beyond our control. It is most important however that you receive your prints in perfect condition. Therefore if you find your prints have been damaged, no matter how slight it may be, please contact us immediately and we will arrange a fresh order.

If for any reason you are not completely satisfied with your fulfilled order please contact us immediately. You can telephone us on 03-9855-0006 during business hours or email support@photoq.com.au. Your satisfaction is important and we will do our best to rectify any problems.